Post by: huntnphool on February 18, 2010, 05:14:09 PM
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/ (http://wdfw.wa.gov/)
February 18, 2010
Contact: Dan Ayers, WDFW (360) 249-4628
WDFW approves razor-clam dig
with bonus days late this month
OLYMPIA - Clam diggers today got the go-ahead to proceed with an evening razor-clam dig late this month after marine toxin tests found that the clams at all five ocean beaches are safe to eat.
In fact, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has expanded evening digs at two of those beaches - Long Beach and Twin Harbors - to run from Friday, Feb. 26, through Monday, March 1.
Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager, said two evenings of digging were added to the scheduled opening at Long Beach, which was closed to digging last month due to elevated marine toxin levels.
"The good news is that toxin levels were well within the safe zone at all five razor-clam beaches," Ayres said. "The bonus for Long Beach is that we were able to add two additional digging days because the clams that would have been taken last month are still available for harvest."
Twin Harbors also has enough clams to add an additional evening of digging to the schedule, Ayres said.
Two other beaches - Copalis and Mocrocks - will be open for evening digging Friday, Feb. 26, through Sunday, Feb. 28, and Kalaloch Beach will be open the evenings of Saturday, Feb. 27 and Sunday, Feb. 28.
The National Park Service scheduled the dig at Kalaloch Beach, which is located within the Olympic National Park, to coincide with those at other coastal beaches.
Digging will be restricted to the hours between noon and midnight each day at all beaches. The best time to start digging is an hour or two before low tide, said Ayres, who recommends taking a lantern for evening digs.
Below is the digging schedule and evening low tides for the upcoming opening:
Friday, Feb. 26, (4:49 p.m., -0.7) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
Saturday, Feb. 27, (5:34 p.m., -0.9) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, Kalaloch
Sunday, Feb. 28, (6:16 p.m., -0.8) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, Kalaloch
Monday, Mar. 1, (6:57 p.m., -0.1) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
Ayres noted that additional openings will be announced after biologists have reviewed the harvest data for the February dig.
Harvesters are allowed to take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container. Clam diggers are no longer required to display their licenses on outer clothing.
A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2009-10 annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination license is still valid. Another option is a razor-clam only license available in annual or three-day only versions. Descriptions of the various licensing options are available on the WDFW website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov) .
Beaches scheduled to open are:
Long Beach , which extends from the Columbia River to Leadbetter Point.
Twin Harbors Beach , which extends from the mouth of Willapa Bay north to the mouth of Grays Harbor.
Copalis Beach , which extends from the Grays Harbor North Jetty to the Copalis River, and includes beaches near Copalis, Ocean Shores, Oyhut and Ocean City.
Mocrocks Beach , which extends from the Copalis River to the southern boundary of the Quinault Reservation near the Moclips River, including Iron Springs, Roosevelt Beach, Pacific Beach and Moclips.
Kalaloch Beach , from the South Beach campground to Brown’s Point (just south of Beach Trail 3) in the Olympic National Park. Visitors to the park are advised to consult area bulletin boards for park safety and other information.
Post by: Tealer on February 18, 2010, 05:58:13 PM
Post by: Martinhunter on February 18, 2010, 09:45:15 PM
Post by: huntnphool on February 18, 2010, 10:18:59 PM
Post by: kbyers on February 19, 2010, 10:15:32 AM
Post by: Martinhunter on February 19, 2010, 11:13:21 AM
Post by: NRA4LIFE on February 19, 2010, 11:36:40 AM
Post by: fishcrazy on February 19, 2010, 12:40:37 PM
Kris
Post by: toe-jam on February 19, 2010, 01:08:16 PM
Post by: Caseyd on February 19, 2010, 01:24:47 PM
Id eat a testical fresh off a kill before one of those things :chuckle:
Post by: huntnphool on February 19, 2010, 04:37:43 PM
Kinda a noob question but how hard is it to find a spot to dig clams? I love clams but would hate to make the trip from the Tri Cities and get skunked. :dunno:
Best way to learn is to figure out what day you are going and hook up with someone to watch and learn. Make sure you have your own gear and most will be glad to help. If I go it will be Saturday and more than likely Ocean Shores. I may hook up with elkaholic123 and I'm sure he wouldnt mind meeting up with someone and showing them the ropes either.
Post by: elkaholic123 on February 23, 2010, 08:12:50 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on February 23, 2010, 08:14:37 PM
Hope the weather holds..
Post by: huntnphool on February 23, 2010, 08:17:48 PM
Post by: kbyers on February 23, 2010, 08:31:53 PM
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on February 24, 2010, 09:02:12 AM
I'm going....I have a convoy from work following me down, then a buffet dinner on the way back....should be fun...I dont know what buffet you are going to, but that one (Grand Buffet?) over by Walmart in Lacy is AWESOME
Hope the weather holds..
Post by: fishcrazy on February 24, 2010, 10:57:52 AM
I'm going....I have a convoy from work following me down, then a buffet dinner on the way back....should be fun...I dont know what buffet you are going to, but that one (Grand Buffet?) over by Walmart in Lacy is AWESOME
Hope the weather holds..
I think it's the Super Buffet. It's allright if you like to eat allot and make a pig out of yerself. :dunno: :drool: :chuckle:
Kris
Post by: danceswitharrows on February 25, 2010, 06:19:02 PM
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on February 25, 2010, 06:41:21 PM
Post by: AKBowman on February 25, 2010, 10:25:54 PM
Post by: clearviewguy on February 25, 2010, 10:33:55 PM
Post by: elkaholic123 on February 26, 2010, 05:32:59 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on February 27, 2010, 08:25:32 AM
GUYS, CONSIDERING THE EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE TODAY, PLUS THIS ADVISORY, I RECOMMEND CHANGING YOUR SATURDAY CLAM DIGGING PLAN TO SUNDAY.
NOTHING WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN TODAY....BUT ALWAYS BETTER TO STAY SAFE.
Post by: WDFW-SUX on February 27, 2010, 08:27:03 AM
Post by: elkaholic123 on February 27, 2010, 09:17:47 AM
Post by: danceswitharrows on February 27, 2010, 03:36:18 PM
Post by: toe-jam on February 27, 2010, 04:45:57 PM
Post by: AKBowman on February 27, 2010, 08:02:32 PM
Post by: elkaholic123 on February 27, 2010, 08:29:43 PM
Post by: buckhorn2 on February 27, 2010, 08:56:53 PM
Post by: clearviewguy on February 27, 2010, 09:17:15 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on February 28, 2010, 07:04:54 AM
Post by: elkaholic123 on February 28, 2010, 10:25:52 AM
Post by: huntnphool on March 03, 2010, 02:39:56 PM
WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/ (http://wdfw.wa.gov/)
March 3, 2010
Contact: Dan Ayres (WDFW), 360- 249-4628
Barb Maynes (ONP), 360-565-3005
WDFW tentatively schedules
two spring razor-clam digs
OLYMPIA - Marking the start of the spring season, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has tentatively scheduled razor-clam digs on ocean beaches late this month and again in mid-April.
As always, final approval of both digs will depend on results of marine toxin tests that show the clams are safe to eat.
Prospective diggers should note that the first opening - scheduled March 26-April 1 at various ocean beaches - starts on evening tides, then switches to morning tides for the final four days, said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager.
"The digs planned this month span the seasonal change, when the lowest tides shift from evening to morning hours," Ayres said. "As in past months, razor-clam digging will be allowed after noon for the first three days of the opening, but will then switch to morning hours starting Monday, March 29."
Tentative days, tides and beach openings for this month’s dig are:
Friday, March 26, (4:29 p.m., +0.1) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Kalaloch
Saturday, March 27, (5:19 p.m., -0.1) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, Kalaloch
Sunday, March 28, (6:04 p.m., 0.0) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
Monday, March 29, (6:35 A.M., -0.1) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
Tuesday, March 30, (7:22 A.M., -0.7) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
Wednesday, March 31, (8:07 A.M., -1.0) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
Thursday, April 1, (8:52 A.M., -1.0) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
The National Park Service scheduled the dig at Kalaloch Beach, which is located within the Olympic National Park, to coincide with those at other coastal beaches. The annual Ocean Shores Razor Clam Festival ( http://www.oceanshores.org/clams.html (http://www.oceanshores.org/clams.html) ) is also scheduled to correspond with the March 27 dig on Copalis Beach.
Another dig is also tentatively scheduled on morning tides in mid-April at Long Beach on the following days and beaches:
Friday, April 16, (8:32 A.M., -0.7) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
Saturday, April 17, (9:12 A.M., -0.7) Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Kalaloch only
Sunday, April 18, (9:56 A.M., -0.6) Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Kalaloch only
Any 2009-10 annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination license is valid through March 31. However, a new license will be required for anyone age 15 or older to participate in the April dig. Descriptions of the various licensing options are available on the WDFW website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov) .
Ayres said WDFW expects to announce additional razor-clam digs in late April or early May on most beaches, noting that several natural events have left more clams than usual available for harvest in spring. Those events include stormy weather in December, a marine toxin closure in January and last week’s tsunami advisory on the coast.
"Razor-clam diggers have had a bumpy ride this season, and we’re doing everything we can to add some additional digging opportunities," Ayres said.
Beaches tentatively scheduled to open March 26 are:
Long Beach , which extends from the Columbia River to Leadbetter Point.
Twin Harbors Beach , which extends from the mouth of Willapa Bay north to the mouth of Grays Harbor.
Copalis Beach , which extends from the Grays Harbor North Jetty to the Copalis River, and includes beaches near Copalis, Ocean Shores, Oyhut and Ocean City.
Mocrocks Beach , which extends from the Copalis River to the southern boundary of the Quinault Reservation near the Moclips River, including Iron Springs, Roosevelt Beach, Pacific Beach and Moclips.
Kalaloch Beach , from the South Beach campground to Brown’s Point (just south of Beach Trail 3) in the Olympic National Park. Visitors to the park are advised to consult area bulletin boards for park safety and other information.
Post by: elkaholic123 on March 03, 2010, 05:58:28 PM